מַעֲלֶה
ma.a.leh
ascent
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the Hebrew word מַעֲלֶה, defined as "ascent", we can see that it has a broad range of usage in the Bible. The word occurs 18 times, indicating its significant presence in various passages. The concept of ascent is inherently dynamic, suggesting movement upwards, either physically or metaphorically. One notable aspect of this word is its application to both literal and figurative contexts. Physical ascent, as in ascending a mountain or moving from a lower to a higher place, is one possible usage. However, it can also imply spiritual or mental growth, indicating a rise in understanding, wisdom, or status. For example, the ascent of a person's spiritual stature or the ascent of divine revelation. The frequency of its occurrence suggests the importance of this concept in the Hebrew worldview. The idea of ascent likely holds symbolic meaning, representing a transition from lower to higher, and implying a sense of elevation or improvement, whether in the physical, spiritual, or intellectual realms.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
18 total occurrences across the text
Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
2 Chronicles 32:33Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Nehemiah 9:4Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani of the Levites stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.
Nehemiah 12:37By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of David’s city, at the ascent of the wall, above David’s house, even to the water gate eastward.
Isaiah 15:5My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
Jeremiah 48:5For they will go up by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping. For at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.
Ezekiel 40:31Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts. The ascent to it had eight steps.
Ezekiel 40:34Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.
Ezekiel 40:37Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.
Joshua 10:10Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah.
Joshua 15:3and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh Barnea, and passed along by Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka;
Joshua 15:7The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.
Joshua 18:17It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. It went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
Judges 1:36The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
Judges 8:13Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.
1 Samuel 9:11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
2 Samuel 15:30David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
2 Kings 9:27But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, “Strike him also in the chariot!” They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.